Former Attorney General Eric Holder today announced his endorsement of Tom Perez for DNC Chair. Tom Perez also issued a statement in response to the major endorsement.

Statement of former Attorney General Eric Holder:

"As we’ve seen since the inauguration, there is much at stake for our nation, and our democracy and our party. We need a DNC chair who is a proven fighter and a proven uniter. Tom Perez is that person.

"Tom not only knows how to take on big fights; he wins them. He led the effort against former Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona on immigration issues, stopped discriminatory voter ID laws, and successfully took on Wall Street in the aftermath of the foreclosure crisis. He made opportunity a reality for women, immigrants, and people with the disabilities.

"Tom fights hard for what he believes in, and I have seen it firsthand. Tom was an indispensable part of my team at the Department of Justice. It was not simply what he did, but how he did it that was impressive. He turned around the civil rights division by building an inclusive team, building partnerships inside and outside the Department, and empowering everyone with whom he worked.

"I truly have great respect for all of the candidates running for DNC chair, but as we wage an epic battle for the heart and soul of our nation, I strongly believe that Tom Perez is the progressive fighter and change agent we need to lead the Democratic party and to rebuild the party infrastructure in the states. I’m confident Tom is up to the tasks that will confront the next DNC Chair. I endorse him with great enthusiasm."

Statement of Tom Perez:

"I am honored to receive the endorsement of Eric Holder, a leader in the fight to protect civil rights for all Americans. Throughout his career, Eric has never backed down from a fight -- whether it was refusing to defend DOMA or taking on Arizona's discriminatory SB1070 law or thwarting multiple terror attacks on American soil. I've been there right by his side when tackling some of our country's biggest problems -- and he's not done yet. Eric understands that Republican threats to our nation's voting rights and civil rights are far from over, and that's why he's taking on the task of holding states accountable for discriminatory redistricting plans in order to ensure that all voters can exercise their basic right to vote free from discrimination. He understands more than anyone that we need a fully funded and fully staffed voter empowerment office at the DNC so that we are responding in real time to the games that Republicans will try to play with our democracy. There was no better partner during my time at the Justice Department than Eric, and our party will need his leadership when fighting to defend the values we all believe in."